Winstone Chiseremi @Wchiseremi

Lawmakers from Western Kenya have expressed fears that disunity among top community leaders could once again deny them the country’s top seat in the 2022 General Election.

Led by Ikolomani MP Benard Shinali and Kakamega Woman Rep Elsie Muhanda, the legislators accused senior politicians from the region of being behind the divisions rocking the Luhya community.

Speaking in Lugari constituency during the burial of Mzee Arthur Angatia, the father of area MP Ayub Savula, the leaders asked Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his embattled Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula to join forces with other leaders if they expect the region to produce the next President.

They told the duo not to give anyone in the community the reason to perceive them as stumbling block to the ‘elusive Luhya’ ahead of 2022.

Key leaders

Shinali said the disunity and selfishness depicted by the top regional leaders was making it difficult for the community to negotiate with other regions for the country’s top seat ahead of the next election.

The MP said other regions will not take the community seriously in their bid to produce the next president if they lack unity and focus as leaders.

 “There is no way we shall  engage with other regions in order  to help one of our own to ascend to the country’s top seat when our key regional leaders are divided due to their personal ambitions,” he said.

The burial which took less than two hours at Manyonyi village was attended by Senate minority leader James Orengo who is also Siaya senator and Vihiga Women Rep Beatrice Adagala.

Orengo challenged the ANC and Ford-K leaders to swallow their pride and work with the Opposition leader Raila Odinga for the sake of national unity and prosperity.

The senator told Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to stop isolating themselves from other leaders in Western region in championing for the community unity.

Mudavadi, Wetang’ula and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya have all declared their interest to vie for the country’s top seat in 2022. 

Orengo told Mudavadi and Wetang’ula they would be blamed for the split in the community for putting their personal interests before that of the Mulembe nation.

He urged them to shelve their ambitions and focus on the unity of the community with other like-minded leaders in the region if they expect to succeed in their political journey.

Adagala rooted for her party leader Mudavadi to vie for the presidency and asked the Luhya community to rally behind him, saying he was the best bet for the nation come 2022.

She said the country would be stable and safe under the leadership of Mudavadi whom she said has an impressive political track record and a solid understanding of the social and economic challenges facing Kenya.

Rally support

Her sentiments were echoed by Savula—ANC deputy party leader—who vowed to rally support for the former Vice President when campaigns   kick off.

 “For now let us slow down on all political activities and focus energies in ensuring that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Big Four agenda is actualised for the benefit of the ordinary citizens,” he said.

Savula asked those eyeing the Presidency in 2022 to accord Uhuru the respect he deserves if they expect to succeed in their ambitions.